My name is Khun. I was born in Pachakalo village, Hsi-Hseng township, in Southern Shan State of Myanmar. I am the youngest of eight children.
My parents were not formally educated, but they worked hard as farmers to send each of their children to high school. Only three of us went on to university — I am one of them. When I was old enough to begin my studies, my eldest brother and sister helped cover my school fees and supported me as best they could.
I feel privileged to have received an education my siblings could not have imagined, studying in Taunggyi, Yangon, Mandalay, and now Hong Kong. From my mother, I inherited a hard-working spirit. From my father, I learned empathy and leadership. And from my brothers and sisters, I learned what it means to look after one another.
Teachers and friends regarded me as a mature and responsible student. From my first year at university, I worked to bring classmates together for community projects and civil society work.
I co-founded a donation group that has since grown into the Khwa Ryue Mitta Foundation. After my studies, I plan to use this foundation to support students like me in pursuing their education goals.
I also served as a core member of the University of Computer Studies Mandalay Students’ Union and as secretary for the Pa-O Literature and Culture Organization for three years. Though I ultimately left that university, I made a commitment to remain dedicated to whatever path lay ahead.
That path led me to the Community Leadership and Social Studies program at Thabyay Education Foundation, where I improved my English, developed employable skills, and deepened my understanding of regional and global issues.
About Khun
- Age: 29
- Ethnicity: Pa O
- Country: Myanmar
School & Program
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- Bachelor’s, Marketing & Finance
- Graduated
Goals & Dreams
- Become an investment analyst
- Travel to East Timor
Loan Details
- Loan Amount: $8,375
- Amount Left To Fund: $7,975
- Contract Duration: 14 years
- Status: In Deferment
Through an internship at Proximity Designs, a social enterprise supporting smallholder farmers in Myanmar, I saw firsthand how technology and social innovation can create real impact. That experience, combined with what I learned at Thabyay, helped me earn the Belt and Road Scholarship to study Business Administration at Hong Kong Baptist University.
During a period of political and economic disruption at home, I was asked by a former colleague to help lead a community supply initiative. Rather than step back, I leaned in. I became a business developer for Ywar Nee Nar, a community enterprise supporting farmers and women, and invited young leaders to help run it.
That experience shifted how I think about business — it should be inclusive, sustainable, and genuinely impactful. I am also a co-founder of Taungthutada, an agricultural initiative connecting young people with farmers in the Shan region.
Earning a degree is not my final destination. I want to return to Myanmar and work to build a more equitable future — for students, for farmers, and for my community.
Written by Khun with editing assistance from Zomia’s volunteer editors.
Khun
“I feel privileged to have received an education that none of my siblings could have imagined. Earning a degree is not my final destination.”
